Overview of Fort Worden Historical State Park

Most people may think it is just a park, but Fort Worden was actually once the home of a World War II military base. With a gorgeous view setting it right on the Puget Sound of Port Townsend, Washington, many locals and tourists often scatter the park and take full advantage of what it has to offer. There’s so much history that resides there. It is so interesting how it was first started and what lead it to what it is today. Fort Worden withholds educational opportunity, hiking paths leading to great views, and it’s also where the town holds some of its’ biggest events. It is, definitely, a park with so much to offer.

Fort Worden is one of Washington’s best state parks. With the natural intentions of being built to protect the Puget Sound from war, many visit Fort Worden just for the history that comes with it. As you drive into the park, you drive by the officer’s row which was where the officers and all of their families stayed. These Victorian houses are tall, white, and beautifully built. Nowadays, they’re available for people to rent out, but even the inside is still old-fashioned to the time they were built. Driving further into the park, there is the old bunkers. The cannons were all taken out, but the rest of the bunkers remain. With their old, rusted ladders, you get to climb up and down to experience what they may have looked like when it was a military base. There’s information all over the park informing people on where they are and what it was used for during that time.

Fort Worden was one of three bases built to protect the Puget Sound. Directly across the Puget Sound, you get the slightest view of one of the other forts. After being used as a military base, it is actually said that they once held a juvenile detention center there. Such a gorgeous place holding a little dark behind it. If you’re looking for it, educational opportunity is all over Fort Worden. It includes information centers and even guides to teach you all about the park while you’re there. On the parks grounds, it also holds a marine biologist center. So you’re not only getting your full dose of history, you can get science too! The marine biologist center sits on a dock right over the beach. As you’re getting information on what’s going on in the water, you also get an amazing view of it as well. You can get your information from the guides or there are also plaques throughout the park with information as well. It is, definitely, a learning experience! Being set right on the water, the views are just astonishing.

Fort Worden is one of Port Townsend, Washington’s most popular spots for hikers. There’s hiking trails all along the park and in the trees for locals and tourists to go through. As you look around at your surroundings, you see tall, green trees behind the park. In front of the park, you get a clear view of the blue ocean. The trails go in and out of the trees, some even leading you to the beach. On the beach, you see old, washed up tree trunks and a view of the lighthouse. The lighthouse is actually open to the public to tour inside of. It’s a place full of adventure.

Fort Worden holds some of the town’s biggest events. One event being: the firework show right over the Puget Sound on the 4th of July. The whole town comes to this event and the park is packed with people. It also holds festivals, weddings, and other major events. With the park’s gorgeous setting, it makes it the perfect place to hold those types of things. The town and the people make good use of the park, it’s just a little pricey to get in. The price is worth it though.